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Should preserve host ball fields?
By JULIE CHURCH, Times Staff Writer EAST LAKE -- There is no question that East Lake needs more youth ball fields. But a recent proposal by a local sports association to acquire land from the Brooker Creek Preserve for new facilities is drawing fire from environmentalists. More than 2,000 children a year participate in baseball, football and soccer leagues and cheerleading at the East Lake Youth Sports Complex off Old Keystone Road. That complex is stretched beyond its capacity as teams share the five baseball, three soccer and two football fields managed by the East Lake Youth Sports Association. "We have been growing every year," association president Gene Davis said, "but we've reached critical mass, because we don't have enough land for teams to practice without being on top of each other." Davis proposes the association lease approximately 25 acres managed by the Brooker Creek Preserve, just to the west of the existing sports complex. The county would charge a nominal fee for the property, and the association would pay to light and develop the fields. But the Friends of the Brooker Creek Preserve, a fundraising and advocacy group, have spoken out against the proposal. They want the land to remain pristine, and not be used for active recreation. "We feel that the camel is getting its nose into the tent," said Ken Rowe, president of the group. "It's 25 acres now and 25 acres sometime down the road and before you know it, the preserve is gone." Some people feel because the land is not developed, it is not being used, Rowe said. He sees it differently. "It is being used," he said. "It is being used by nature." Land is at a premium in East Lake, as in other parts of Pinellas County, Davis said. The association, which relies on its own fundraising to operate, simply can't afford to purchase property for ball fields. The property in question is owned by the county's utilities department but is part of the 8,500-acre Brooker Creek Preserve wilderness management area. The parcel is home to an estimated 25,000 pine trees, which were planted more than 15 years ago and will soon be ready for harvesting, according to Craig Huegel, environmental lands division administrator and manager of the preserve. Huegel would also like to see the land remain undeveloped. "It's a question of what is the highest and best use of the land," he said. "We think the land is at its highest use right now." County commissioners have changed their philosophy on recreation areas recently. In years past, the county favored passive recreation areas and chose to leave ball fields, skate parks and other active recreation areas to local municipalities. But the population of Pinellas County is getting younger and there is more demand for additional facilities, said Commissioner Susan Latvala. "We're not going to have our own baseball and soccer teams," she said. "But we will look at our parks and make sure there are enough recreation areas for all kids and all adults." A recent comparison showed that Pinellas spends far less money on active recreation per capita than other Florida counties of a similar size. The Brooker Creek Preserve management area includes about 1,700 acres owned by the utility department north of Keystone Road. The property was purchased in the 1970s, with an eye toward future water supply needs, but hasn't yet been used for utility purposes. Utilities Director Pick Talley likes the idea of leasing the property to the sports association, with the understanding that the county could take the land back if it determines a need for additional water supplies. "You can always relocate ball fields," Talley said. Leasing 25 acres north of Keystone Road to the sports association does not affect the bulk of the preserve, which lies to the south of Keystone Road, he said. "We'd be happy to have youth leagues use the land," Talley said. "You have to balance all the needs, and we don't feel this would seriously impact the preserve." Talley made a presentation in favor of the idea to the County Commission recently and said the issue would appear on its agenda in the near future. It also may be possible to use a portion of 1,800 acres the county is negotiating to purchase east of the sports complex for new fields instead of the pine field, Talley said. That land would be less expensive to develop, because 25,000 pine tree stumps wouldn't have to be removed. Huegel, who has three sons who have played youth sports in East Lake, understands the demand for more fields, but doesn't want commissioners to be too hasty in developing land now managed by the preserve. "All I'd ask is that it is done with careful analysis," Huegel said. "And that they distinguish what they want from what they need."
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
